Jack Mcmillian To The Rescue

October 1, 1995|By BETH FEINSTEIN-BARTL and Special to the Sun-Sentinel

Hollywood Fire Department Battalion Chief Jack McMillan has been honored as the state's top paramedic for helping save the life of a teen-ager who was injured in a car wreck.

McMillan was named Florida Paramedic of the Year in July by the Florida Association of EMS Providers. The non-profit group has about 600 members and represents all of the emergency medical providers statewide.

McMillan was selected by the association for his work at the site of a car crash, which occurred in July 1994 at North 58th Avenue and Stirling Road.

Four teens died in the accident. A fifth victim was pulled from the wreck after McMillan amputated her leg.

"The timing was critical," McMillan said. "The young lady had other life threatening injuries. We had to get her to a trauma center immediately or she would have died."

In his 18 years with the Hollywood Fire Department, McMillan said he has been on the scene of multi-fatality accidents before. But the car crash in July 1994 was his first where so many young people were involved, he said.

"While I'm very proud to have received this award, it's linked to a profound tragedy," said McMillan, 47. "It makes one humble."

Jim Judge, president of the Florida Association of EMS Providers, said the group takes great pride in having someone such as McMillan represent them.

"I can understand what he went through because I was in the same situation myself several years ago, where I had to amputate someone's leg at the scene of a car crash," said Judge, who is EMS Chief for Indian River County. "Because of his quick thinking and heroism, an individual's life was saved."

In addition to the plaque from the association, McMillan received an award of merit from Hollywood city officials during a City Commission meeting on Sept. 20.

The honor was given to McMillan not only for his efforts at the car crash scene, but for his years of work with the department as well, Hollywood Fire Chief Herminio Lorenzo said.

"Jack is always a person you can count on for any task or assignment," Lorenzo said.

About two or three awards of merit are given by the department each year in recognition of actions that go above and beyond the call of duty, Lorenzo said.

"It's a very high honor," he said.

McMillan is quick to add that he doesn't want to take all the credit for his awards.

"I've accepted these honors on behalf of my co-workers," he said. "It's a reflection on the entire department."

About five months ago, the teen and her mother stopped by the Fire Department to thank the paramedics, including McMillan.

"That's the biggest reward," McMillan said. "It was seeing that the young woman who was pulled from the crash is alive and going on with her life."